The fish are not "protected" by State law (well, they are, because if you catch them while fishing, you can't keep one absent a $50 stamp) - they are "protected" because Robbie's is a private establishment that, as a tourist attraction, allows patrons onto its dock to watch/feed the tarpon. The tarpon are there because they are safe - nobody is allowed to fish for them or otherwise harm them. They are well fed (both from people hand feeding from the dock and from scraps from filleted fish) and hang around because they are safe.
The asshole in the video decided he was going to wrestle a large fish by grabbing on and sticking his whole arm through the tarpon's gill plate which, in all likelihood, killed the fish. As was said above, the gill plate on a tarpon or snook is extremely sharp and the guy is fortunate he didn't bleed out on the dock. If you have any respect for wildlife whatsoever, the video/gif should annoy you.
The tarpon is the premiere sport fish in Florida, and those of us that have enjoyed catching them take special care to make sure they live to fight another day.
Well said and I couldn't agree more. I encourage anyone here to give it a shot if they are able and curious; if you're ever in the Keys, find a back country guide and do a half day for tarpon. Stick with medium or heavy weight spinning gear until you know what you're dealing with, then give it a try on light tackle or break out the fly rod.
Tarpon can reach 200lbs, don't tire from jumping out of the water like other fish do, and aren't exactly stupid either. Before I left the Keys for college, I went out for a day of fishing with my dad. We slammed the permit and bones that day, but the highlight of the trip was the 140+ lb tarpon he hooked with a live pinfish, who then proceeded to pull our skiff against the current towards a channel for more than an hour. After he had had enough of playing tuna, the tarpon decided it was time to dance and went skyward. The third jump was particularly high and acrobatic, and even though dad "bowed to the king" like he was supposed to, the tarpon's angle of descent gave his plates a clean shot at the leader and sure enough, pop went 120lb mono, cut in one pass like it wasn't even there. I dare anyone to go after them and not have a great time. Especially if you a fresh water-only kind of guy, used to chasing bass or trout.
Yep, tarpon rule. But they have it hard enough as it is with sharks just waiting for them to get hooked. Considering how much revenue the species brings down there, and how they are regarded by the locals and captains, I'm surprised the guy didn't get slapped with a beer bottle. Would have been nice to see someone there grab that guy by the ankles and just 'wheel borrow' his ass right on in. Hey, you wanted to get cuddly with the fish, there you go fuckwad! Bill's in the mail!